of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex; © Traci Bignell
Standing at the base of the Blackfoot valley, imagine getting a clear, unobstructed view of the Lolo National Forest as the landscape steadily climbs off the valley floor and tapers into the snow-dusted peaks on the horizon.
Now imagine the forest areas surrounding the local communities being actively managed for forest health, from thinning projects and prescribed burns to road removal and stream restoration — local people, enriching their rural economy, while making the forest healthier for wildlife and fish, more accessible for recreation, and safer from wildfire in the process. The higher your vision climbs, the lighter the touch on the land becomes lighter. The higher you vision climbs, the lighter the touch on the land becomes, until your gaze finds the higher elevation wilderness, where the horse packers, hikers, and wildlife roam the high-country.
The The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is a legislative proposal that helps realize this vision for the landscape. The glue that holds this vision together is trust. Residents within the Blackfoot and Seeley Swan valleys have a long history of working together and establishing trust. This “culture of cooperation” has created a climate where timber workers and ranchers can sit down with conservation organizations, as well as state and federal agencies to collectively figure out solutions that are appropriate for both the local residents and the integrity of the landscape they live in.
- restore and protect the integrity of the landscape
- stimulate and diversify the rural economies of communities located within it
- encourage cooperation to conserve wilderness and wildlife while maintaining and enhancing a traditional way of life
- Develop biomass as a renewable energy opportunity in Montana